Why do the ranks open to avoid the corpse? What is "The Question"?

The corpse is a reminder or rather a foreshadowing of their own fate. They avoid it bur Henry wants to peer into his eyes. Henry begins to question himself and the values by which he measures his actions. Issues that were once so etched in stone by male bravado were up for debate. Courage, mortality, victory and futility now swarmed around Henry's head as he came closer to battle.